Airport officials hope to launch new project

The Clovis Municipal Airport recently completed one major project and is petitioning federal officials in hopes of launching another, Director Steve Summers said.

The airport finished replacing the lighting on the taxi-ways, which are used by aircraft to travel to the hangars and runways. Summers said renovation of the lighting cost $600,000. “Half of the money used for the project was (federal and state) grant money,” Summers said, “and the city of Clovis matched with $300,000.”

Summers said the taxi-way also underwent basic maintenance reconstruction to repair normal wear and tear on the surface.

The longtime director said he is now hoping to get approval for a $6 million project, which would extend an existing runway, utilizing land the city bought in 1988.

“The extension of the runway would allow us (the airport) to handle larger aircraft,” Summers said, “which means an increase in passengers.”

Summers said the Federal Aviation Administration must first approve the expansion plan before funding could be secured. He said airport officials hope to have the plan approved “in stages.” Steps begin this year with environmental assessment.

Great Lakes Airlines is the only passenger airline operating from Clovis Municipal Airport, according to airport officials.

The Wyoming-based airline offers service direct to Albuquerque and Amarillo from Clovis.

History
• The city of Clovis purchased 820 acres for the airport site in 1957. In 1988, the city bought 640 additional acres to the north for potential runway extension.

Source: Airport Director Steve Summers

By the numbers
• 6 — miles outside of Clovis the airport is located

• 4,214 — elevation at the airport, in feet

• 45,000 — single-wheel weight limitation, in pounds, for runway 4/22

• $600,000 — money recently spent to renovate lighting on runways

• $6 million — estimated amount to be spent on runway extension project, if approved